Organic Molecules: Composition & FunctionCheck out: Emory University Cancer Quest!

What are Organic Molecules?

Any carbon compound

1. Isomers – same chemical formula but different 3D structure; Example- glucose and fructose

2. Polymers – large molecule formed when many smaller molecules bond together in a condensation reaction;

How are they built?

Monomers - A molecule or subunit that functions alone or combines with other similar molecules to form a polymer

Polymers – formed from the joining of monomers, the following biomolecules are all polymers. The following biomolecules are all polymers:

1. Carbohydrates 2. Proteins3. Nucleic Acids4. Lipids

CarbohydratesBiomolecule composed of carbon , hydrogen and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio

Monomer of Carbohydrates: Monosaccharide- simplest (simple sugar); Ex. – glucose, fructose

Polymer of Carbohydrates: Polysaccharides- large carbohydrate molecule (composed of many monosaccharides); Ex. – starch, glycogen, cellulose, sucrose, lactose

Function 1. Starch- energy storage by plant cells2. Glycogen- mammals store energy in liver in form

of glycogen3. Cellulose- forms cell wall of plants & give

structural support

Lipids

Large biomolecule made mostly of carbon and hydrogen with small amount of oxygen

Monomer of Lipids: Fatty Acid

Examples: Fats, oils, steroids

Function: Used for energy storage; insulation and protective covering- major component of membranes that surround all loving cell 

Special Feature- insoluble in water because molecules are nonpolar (not attracted to water)

ProteinsLarge complex polymer composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur

Structure: Amino acid sequence (forming covalent, or peptide binds between one another)

Monomers: Amino acids

Examples: enzymes (catalyst), keratin (structural) , collagen (structural), hemoglobin (functional-oxygen transport)

Function: Building blocks of structural components of living organisms; used in contracting muscle tissue; transportation of oxygen to bloodstream; immune response; regulating other proteins; carrying out chemical reactions

Nucleic AcidsComplex biomolecule that stores cellular information in the form of a code

Structure: Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus arranged in three groups- a nitrogenous base, a simple sugar, phosphate group

Monomer: nucleotides

Examples: DNA, RNA

Function: Stores cellular information  1. DNA- contains instructions to form enzymes and

structural proteins; forms genetic code

2. RNA- forms a copy of DNA for use in making proteins

RNA!